Register re-signs with Steelheads

Action photo of Matt Register of the Idaho Steelheads

BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Steelheads, ECHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars, announced that the club has re-signed veteran defenseman Matt Register to a contract for the 2023-24 season.

Register enters his 13th professional season, second with Idaho, after finishing with 52 points (9g-43a) in 68 games last season. In addition, he was named to the All-ECHL First Team for the sixth time in his career and was a co-winner for ECHL Plus Performer of the Year at +53. His 43 assists led all Steelheads skaters and tied for first amongst all league defenders while his 52 points tied for second. In 15 contests in the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs last season he totaled 14 points (1g-13a).

The 33-year-old captured three straight Kelly Cup championships winning with the Allen Americans in 2016 and Colorado Eagles in 2017 and 2018. During the 2017 playoffs the Calgary, Alberta native was named Kelly Cup Playoffs MVP after leading all defensemen in points (24) and finishing second amongst all skaters. Register has been named ECHL Defenseman of the Year three times (2014, 2017, 2018).

He has played parts of 10 seasons in the ECHL from 2013-23 splitting time with six different teams: Ontario (2013-15), Atlanta (2015-16), Allen (2016, 2020-21), Colorado (2016-18), Toledo (2018-19) and Idaho (2022-present), accumulating 426 points (100g-326a) in 540 regular-season games as well as 146 points (27g-87a) in 146 playoff games. Register has spent parts of four seasons in the American Hockey League on three different teams: Chicago (2014-15), Hartford (2018-19) and Iowa (2019-21) totaling eight points (1g-7a) in 43 career games.

Last season, he recorded his 300th career ECHL assist on Dec. 30 against the Utah Grizzlies becoming the 32nd player in league history to do so, and just the fifth defenseman. Register skated in his 500th career ECHL game on Jan. 14 against Utah becoming the 46th player in league history to do so.